Your Genes, Your Health

A Critical Family Guide That Could Save Your Life

Aubrey Milunsky

A rare, non-technical, book about many genetic disorders often not recognized in families, containing valuable information and authoritative guidance for genetic testing

Contains useful information for couples who plan to have a child and concerned about the risks of autism, mental retardation, birth defects and genetic disorders

Written by an internationally-known physician with decades of experience working with families to answer genetic questions

The author has decades of experience in writing books about genetics for families and professionals

Your Genes, Your Health

A Critical Family Guide That Could Save Your Life

Aubrey Milunsky

Description

New advances in genetics have dramatically expanded our ability to avoid, prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide range of disorders. Now, more than ever, families need to know about these new discoveries, especially as there are some 7,000 rare genetic diseases that afflict about 1 in 12 of us. In Your Genes, Your Health, Aubrey Milunsky provides an invaluable and authoritative guide to what you should know about your genes. Illustrated with poignant family histories that underscore the lifesaving importance of knowing one's family medical history and ethnic origin, the book highlights the importance of recognizing seemingly unrelated disorders in a family as due to the same gene mutation and it outlines the key genetic tests needed for diagnosis, detection of carriers, and prenatal diagnosis. Many genetic disorders are discussed including cancer, heart disease, autism, mental illness, birth defects, neurologic disorders, diabetes, obesity and much more. The message of this book is clear—know your family history, be cognizant of your ethnic origins, seek appropriate consultations, and opt for meaningful genetic tests. Recognition of your risk(s) enables prompt preemptive action. By knowing your genes, you may save your life and the lives of those you love.

Your Genes, Your Health

A Critical Family Guide That Could Save Your Life

Aubrey Milunsky

Author Information

Aubrey Milunsky, Professor of Human Genetics, Pediatrics, Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director, Center for Human Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, USA

Aubrey Milunsky, MD, D.S.c. is Professor of Human Genetics, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pathology, and the Director of the Center for Human Genetics, at Boston University School of Medicine.